Matrix-alining mechanism for linotype-machines.



No. 643,976. v Patented Fem 20, I900.

.1. PLACE.

MATRIX ALINING MECHANISM FOR .LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

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No. 643,976. Patented Feb. 20, 1900..

,1. PLACE. MATRIX ALINING MECHANISM-FUR LINDTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Shant -Sheet 2 l/vvENToR. 5mg 1 634m;

N TED STATES PATENT Orrin.

JOHN PLACE, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERGEN- THALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATRIX-ALINING MECHANISM FOR LlNOTYPE-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,976, dated February 20, 1900. Application filed December 31,1897. Serial No. 665,046. (No modelil To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PLACE, of No. 11 Hulme street, Oxford street, Manchester, in

the county of Lancaster, England, a subject that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith, and one which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in the matrix-alining mechanism of linotype-machines. A linotype-machine is a combined composing and casting machine. The units upon which it operates are (ignoring spaces for the moment) in some cases type-matrices and in others type-dies. In either case the thing which it castsits product, in fact-is a printing-bar having along one edge of it and incorporated with it a line of printing-type, duly spaced and j ustified into words.

The said invention is applicable to all linotype-machines.

The accompanying figures illustrate the application of it to the well-known Mergenthaler linotype-machine, partly because it has been conceived and developed with special reference to that machine and partly because the latter is the only linotype-machine in operation in this country.

The Mergenthaler linotype-machine is fully described in the specification of Letters Patent No. 436,532, to which the reader is referred for further particulars of its mechanism outside the scope of the present invention. The units on which it operates are matrices and spaces. The latter are known as space-bars. The matrices are practically rectangular plates of hard brass of uniform shape and size, excepting that they differ in thickness according to the width of the respective character. The space-bars are double wedges, each bar having one wedge much longer than the other. Matrices and space-bars are of the same width, the result being that a composed line of them has a rear and front face parallel with each other and both unbroken, save for the presence of the row of formative cavities in the rear face. It is in this row of formative cavities that the printing-type of the linotype are formed. The composed line of matrices and space-bars finds itself at a certain point in thecycle of the operations of the machine within the grasp of an organ known as a shifter, which latter holds it by nipping its two ends together. These ends are. parallel with each other and at right angles with the rear and front faces. The shifter transfers the line into an organ known as a transporter or first elevator. The transporter consists of a pair of parallel bars between which the line is received. Its function is to carry it down into the casting position in front of the mold, to hold it there during the act of justification and the process of casting, and to then carry -it away to the distributer.

During the time that the line is in the casting position each end of it is within a short distance of a fixed abutment, while the line is behind an abutment covering the front face of it. The distance between the two fixed abutments is equal to the length of the line to be printed and determines the length of the linotype.

The mold for the body of the linotype is a slot or cavity in a so-called mold-wheel, through which it extends from front to rear, standing therein parallel with a diameter of the wheel. This wheel stands in a vertical plane, and the front face of the metal immediately surrounding the said cavity, being, in fact, the front face of the so-called moldblock, is shaped to fit metal-tight up to the rear face of the line, its cavity registering with the above-mentioned row of formative cavities when the said wheel is moved up from the rear. When the wheel has been so brought up from the rear to the line, the several units of the latter are held in the casting position by the engagement of certain projecting shoulders on them under corresponding fixed shoulders.

The metal pot and pump are then brought up to the rear face of the mold-wheel. The act of justification is effected meanwhile by forcing a plate upward against the depending ends of the longer wedges above mentioned. The upward motion of these wedges before that of the said plate thickens the space-bars, thereby justifying the line automatically. The said upward motion is continued until the immobility of the end abutments stops it. The act of casting succeeds that of justification.

It is obvious that if the matrices are not truly alined in respect of (a) all their rear edges standing in one plane or (b) all the formative cavities standing in a row the resulting linotype is incapable of making a correct impression, for the reason that either some of the letters are lower than others, and so fail to print, or because some stand above or below the line, and so print out of line. Of the two imperfections in alinement just mentioned the former occurs oftener than the latter. It may be attributed to the failure of the advance of the mold-block to aline the edges of the members. That advance is intended to accomplish such alinement by pushing them up against the front abutment; but the friction between the members themselves sometimes prevents this intention being fully realized.

It is the particular object of the present invention to eliminate both the above-mentioned imperfections as far as possible; and the invention itself consists in the combination, with the surfaces concerned, of pairs of inclined surfaces, the minima of which are brought into contact with each other at the commencement of the process of composition or of that of alinement or of that of justification.

Referring to the accompanying figures, which are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith Figure l is a transverse vertical section, from the left hand of the machine, of the mechanism concerned. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of a composed line before justification. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a space-bar. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a matrix. Fig.5 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 6 a plan corresponding with Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a plan, partly in section, of a composed and justified line and of the two end abutments between which it is held.

Y Y are the matrices; y y, their projectingupper one against the longer wedges z under the action of two lifting-rodsp (only one shown 0, the mold-cavity; o the moldbloek in'which it is formed; 0, the moldwheel, to which the mold-block is made fast; 0 the bearing in which the mold-wheel is carried and can turn; V, the pot which supplies the molten type-metal to the mold-cavity; 22 its mouthpiece, and 12 one of the legs upon which the pot is supported and swung up to and away from the mold-block. All the foregoing parts are as heretofore.

The imperfection (a) above described is eliminated by the following means: A pair of inclined surfaces is distributed between each possible pair of units. One surface of the pair is a conical or wedge shaped projection on the side of one unit, while the other surface of the pair is a correspondingindentation in the adjacent side of the other unit. All the surfaces are regularly positioned on and in the two sides of all the unitsmatrices and space barswith which the machine is equipped, so that the projection on any one shall be capable of engaging in the indentation in any other. There is no limit to the number of pairs of surfaces on each pair of units. The minima of the inclined surfaces that is, the points or noses of the projections and the mouths of the indentations-having been engaged the former in the latter, it is obvious that the act of j ustification above described will establish and maintain an action that will secure a perfect alinement of the rear edges of all the units of the composed line in one vertical plane.

One type of the above-described means is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7. o is a vertical V- shaped ridge on one and the same side of each unit. e is a vertical V-shaped groove in the opposite side of each unit. In the case of a space-bar I propose to place the ridge on the shorter wedge .2 and the groove in the longer one .2, the said groove being continued down the latter to allow of its upward motion in the act of justification, as indicated in Fig. 3. The wedge z and the upper portion of the wedge z are both as thin as it is practicable for them to be. This being the case,the groove U68 must be stamped in the wedge 2', because there is not sufficient thickness of material to allow of it being cut therein. Such stamping produces a ridge @1 on the opposite or tapered side of the said wedge, and there is a complementary groove in the tapered side of the shorter wedge z to receive the said ridge c.

A ridge and a groove are distributed, likewise, between the abutments p p to correspond with the respectively adjacent ridge e and groove v The imperfection (b) above described is eliminated by the following means: A pair of inclined surfaces is distributed between all the matrices and the mold-block. Farther back in the specification it is explained that it is the practice to hold the several units of the composed line in the casting position by the engagement of certain projecting shoulders on them under corresponding fixed shoulders. The shoulders concerned by the present invention are the bottom shoulders 31' 'J' of the matrices. They have hitherto engaged under the bottom edges of the bar N and of the projecting front of the mold-block 0 in a horizontal plane at right angles to the vertical face of the mold, so that the pressure and friction between the under face of the mold and the upper face of the matrix-ears were maintained during the entire period of alinement and j ustification of the matrices.

According to the present invention there is an incline v on the top of the bottom rear shoulder of each matrix and a corresponding incline 01 on the bottom of the said front of the mold-block, these two inclines respec cline startingfrom the bottom of its rear face ribs to enter the adjacent matrices.

and extending backward and upward. The lower edge or minimum of the incline 22 on the mold-block stands at a higher level than the minimum of the incline '0 so that the advance of the mold-block 0 carries it over the same and leaves it standing above it and to the front of it. The customary lifting influence applied to the transporter or first elevator H and the upward movement of the spacing-wedges z in the act of justification tend to carry all the matrices in the composed line upward, thereby causing the incline v to engage with the incline v making the former slide over the latter, thereby forcing the matrices backward up to the front face of the mold-block o as closely or nearly as closely as they should be theoretically.

After a linotype has been cast and before the mold-wheel O is moved back from the casting position the transporter N is lowered a little. This lowering has the effect of providing for the incline 12 clearing the incline 0 It is obvious that the two surfaces 0 12 may be transferred to the bar N and the front bottom shoulders y without going outside the scope of the present invention.

In Patent No. 540,002, issued to me May 28, 1895, I have shown wedge-spacers stiffened by means of longitudinal ribs on one side, one side of the matrices being routed out to make room for them. These ribs and grooves were neither intended nor adapted to serve the purpose of the present ribs and grooves. They were not of V form in crosssection. No attempt was made to secure a close fit between the ribs of the spacers and the grooves of the matrices. The matrices, though routed out to admit the ribs of the spacers, were not themselves provided with In short,

the ribs of the spacers were intended solely to give them additional rigidity, and the matrices, flat on one side, were simply routed out on the other side to admit freely and loosely the ribs of the spacers.

I am aware that soft-metal type have been provided with ribs and grooves to cause them to interlock in the form, in order to prevent them from being displaced by the action of the printing-press; but this is wholly foreign to my invention, which is limited to metallic matrices designed for conjoint use in composed lines in connection with intermediate spacers for the purpose of forming in exact alinement with each other a series of characters or letters on the edge of a slug or linotype cast against them. When matrices of this character are employed in a linotypemachine, the interlocking inclined surfaces arranged as hereinbefore described are of special importance and have a mode of action and an effect quite distinct from the mere interlocking surfaces on ordinary printers type. They tend to bring the matrices into alinement so far as their vertical edges are concerned and to maintain such alinement beforethe final clamping devices come into play, while at the same time they permit the matrices and spacers in the line to slide vertically in relation to each other during the action of the devices which lift the matrices in order to bring their lower'ears against the under side of the mold for alining purposes.

Experience has shown that the friction between the side faces of the numerous matrices in the line is so great that it is exceedingly difficult to bring them into exact alinement while they are under pressure. Hence the importance of having them brought and held as nearly as possible in alinement before the final alining actions in the machine occur.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A series of matrices for conjoint use in a linotype-machine, each having a character or matrix proper in one edge, and also having on one side a longitudinal V-shaped rib and in the opposite side a groove of corresponding size and location; whereby such matrices are brought into approximate alinement during the composition of the line, but permitted to move endwise in relation to each other for final and exact alinement.

2. In a linotype-machine, an expanding spacer, comprising two connected and oppositely-tapered wedges, one wedge having on its side a longitudinal V-shaped rib, and the accompanying wedge having in its outer side a groove of corresponding shape and location whereby said spacer is adapted to cooperate with complementary matrices.

3. In a linotype-machine, a series of fiat matrices, each having in one edge a character or matrix proper, on one side a longitudinal V-shaped rib and in the opposite side a groove of corresponding form and location, in combination with a series of expanding spacers, each composed of two oppositely-tapered wedges, ribbed and grooved to correspond with the matrices.

4. A linotype-matrix having at its edge an ear or shoulder with its surface inclined in relation to the edge of the matrix, substantially as shown.

5. In a linotype'machine, a matrix having a rib or shoulder with an inclined surface 11 in combination with a mold having a corresponding inclined surface '0 with mechanism for alining the matrices against the mold.

6, The combination with the matrices and space-bars of a linotype-machine, of a ridge and a groove, or equivalent surfaces, on 0pposite and corresponding sides of each; an

incline on one of the bottom shoulders of each matrix and a corresponding incline on a fixed shoulder, motion over which latter by the said matrix, will tend to force the latter closely up to the casting mechanism, as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with the matrices and space-bars of a linotype-machine, of a ridge and a groove, or equivalent surfaces on opposite and corresponding sides of each; a similar ridge and groove, or equivalent surfaces, distributed between the abutments adapted to hold the composed line of matrices and space-bars between them; an incline on one of the bottom shoulders of each matrix; a corresponding incline on a fixed shoulder,- motion over which latter by the said matrix, will tend to force the latter closely up to the casting mechanism, as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 18th day of October, 1897.

JOHN PLACE,

Witnesses:

FRANCIS I. JACKSON, I. A. STREET. 

